Truss vent cover with selective size adjustability

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates generally to the field of vent covers, and particularly to truss vent covers with selective size adjustability. The present invention is particularly adaptable for use by homebuilders, contractors, or do-it-yourself home owners to improve the aesthetic nature of the vent chutes and provide protection from the natural elements. The truss vent cover with selective size adjustability of the present invention allows the installer to adjust the size of the vent cover and properly cover the vent chutes of the house.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of vent covers, andparticularly to truss vent covers with selective size adjustability.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Normal household activities can cause damage to a roof and attic ifproper roof ventilation systems are not provided for the attic. When theweather is cold, warm air generated by washing machines, dryer, showers,dish washing, and cooking is trapped in the house causing the built upof moisture. Also, when the weather is hot, the heat that builds upencourages premature aging and cracking of wood and roofing materials.Unwanted heat can also transfer back down into living areas, reducingenergy efficiency. One of the only ways to address these problems iswith a proper ventilation system, where wind blowing over the ridge ofthe roof creates a negative pressure that draws the warmer air out ofthe attic. Replacement air enters through the truss vents, undereave, orsoffit vents, circulates underside of the roof, and exits at the ridgecap through ridge vents, roof vents, or gable vents. Some problems withhaving these vents and vent chutes include the generally unsightly andunaesthetic nature of the vent chutes which show from the outside of thehouse, and more importantly these vents expose the attic to elementsfrom the outside ranging from rain and dust to animals and insects.

A variety of vent covers have been utilized by home builder and homeowners in order to make their house more aesthetically pleasing and alsoprotect the attic from the natural elements. However, because thesevents never have exactly the same dimensions, often times the ventcovers are either too small or too large, which require somemanipulation of the vent cover by the installer for it to properly coverthe vent, usually leaving the vent cover noticeable and unsightly.Furthermore, if the vent cover is not properly fitted onto the ventchute, small opening can still allow the natural element and smallanimals and insects to get through into the roof. While there has been atrend to standardize vent sizes and vent covers and to make them moreaesthetically pleasing, further improvements in the effectiveness andability of the vent cover to properly cover and protect the vent chutesare desirable, and the truss vent cover with selective sizeadjustability of the present invention addresses the existing problemsand provides related solutions and benefits.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of vent covers, andparticularly to truss vent covers with selective size adjustability. Thepresent invention is particularly adaptable for use by homebuilders,contractors, or do-it-yourself home owners to improve the aestheticnature of the vent chutes and provide protection from the naturalelements. The truss vent cover with selective size adjustability of thepresent invention allows the installer to adjust the size of the ventcover and properly cover the vent chutes of the house.

The present invention recognizes that providing aesthetically pleasingvent covers which can be used with a range of vent sizes can makeinstillation of the vent covers easier and cost efficient by providing avent cover that can be easily and selectively sized to cover a range ofdifferent types and sizes of vent chutes. There are many terminologyused for the type and location of the vents or vent chutes that are usedto ventilate a house. These terms include truss vents, undereave, orsoffit vents. However the present invention can be built and/or adaptedto be used in connection with any vents or vent chutes of any size atany location in or on the house, and although this application makesreference to a truss vent cover, this should not be limiting the totalscope of the present invention, which can be used with any size ventchutes at any location in or on the house.

A first aspect of the present invention includes a truss vent coverincluding a substantially rectangular border body with a substantiallyempty center region having a front face and an opposing back face andbeing able to substantially fit between two adjacent truss beams andover a truss vent chute, the substantially rectangular border bodyincluding a first member having a first top lip, a first bottom lip, anda left lip, a second member having a second top lip, a second bottomlip, and a right lip, wherein the length of the right lip is shorterthan the length of the left lip such that the second top lip and thesecond bottom lip are able to slidingly fit into the first top lip andthe first bottom lip of the first member, and a screen fixedly attachedto the back face of the first member the substantially rectangularborder body covering the substantially empty center region.

A second aspect of the present invention includes a substantiallyrectangular truss vent cover including a border having an empty centerregion, the border including a top side, a bottom side, a left side, anda right side, wherein at lease one of the sides includes means forselective size adjustability, and a screen fixedly attached to the backsides of the truss vent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a front view of an embodiment of the truss vent cover.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of an embodiment of the truss vent cover.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of an embodiment of the truss vent cover.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the truss ventcover.

FIG. 5 shows a front view of an embodiment of the truss vent cover thatis installed between two truss beams.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Introduction

The present invention recognizes that providing aesthetically pleasingvent covers which can be used with a range of vent sizes can makeinstillation of the vent covers easier and cost efficient by providing avent cover that can be easily and selectively sized to cover a range ofdifferent types and sizes of vent chutes.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent as the description proceeds and when taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings. To gain a full appreciation of the scope ofthe present invention, it will be further recognized that variousaspects of the present invention can be combined to make desirableembodiments of the invention. Unless defined otherwise, all technicaland scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonlyunderstood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this inventionbelongs. Where a term is provided in the singular, the inventor alsocontemplates the plural of that term. The nomenclature used herein andthe procedures described below are those well known and commonlyemployed in the art.

I. A Truss Vent Cover

One embodiment of the present invention includes a truss vent coverincluding a substantially rectangular border body with a substantiallyempty center region. The border of the vent cover may be of any desiredsize, but it is important the empty center region be of a proper sizewith respect to the vent chute so that free air flow is notsubstantially encumbered and air flow and exchange can take place fromthe out side. The border body includes a front face and an opposing backface and is able to substantially fit between two adjacent truss beamsand over a truss vent chute. The border body of the present inventioncan be made from any suitable rigid material such as wood, metal,plastics, or a combination thereof. The pieces of the present inventionthat are connected to each other can be made separately or molded in oneor more unit.

The substantially rectangular border body includes a first member havinga first top lip, a first bottom lip, and a left lip, a second memberhaving a second top lip, a second bottom lip, and a right lip, whereinthe length of the right lip is shorter than the length of the left lipsuch that the second top lip and the second bottom lip are able toslidingly fit into the first top lip and the first bottom lip of thefirst member. It is important that the difference in the length of theright lip and left lip be just enough such that the complementarysurface of the first top lip of the first member is in contact with andslides over the complementary surface of the second top lip of thesecond member, and the complementary surface of the first bottom lip isin contact with and slides under of the complementary surface of thesecond bottom lip of the second member, such that there is substantiallyno open space between the complementary surfaces and contact regions.This configuration and sizing can also be reversed wherein the top andbottom lips of the second member slide over and under the top and bottomlips of the first member respectively. Also, the configuration may bedivided wherein the top and bottom lips of the first member both slideover the top and bottom lip of the second member or alternatively, thetop and bottom lip of the second member both slide over the top andbottom lip of the first member.

In other words, the first member and the second member are each arectangle with one side missing, and when the two members interfit, thetop and bottom lips of the second member have complementary surfaceregions which slide inside the area provided by the top and bottom lipsof the first member forming the four sides of the rectangle, wherein thetwo members can movably and slidingly engage one another. In suchconfiguration, the interfitting and sliding mechanism of the first andsecond members provide an extendable vent cover, wherein the slidingmechanism provides for selective size adjustability of the vent cover,where the rectangle can be made to have a range of lengths depending onhow far or deep the members slide into one another. This is particularlyuseful and effective because the distances between truss beam oftenrange is sizes and are never exactly the same, and instead of having tocut the vent cover to fit to size, the present invention provides forsize adjustability in order to accommodate the normal range in distancesof adjacent truss beams. By way of example, it is preferred that theoverall dimension of the vent cover be between about 21 inches to about23 inches long and between about 3½ inches to about 5½ inches wide. Morepreferably, the vent cover is 22½ inches long and 3⅜ inches wide.

The present invention can include fastening means for attaching thetruss vent cover to the adjacent truss beams. The fastening means can beany suitable fastening means for this purpose, for example nails,screws, and adhesives are preferred fastening means. It is preferredthat the left lip of the first member and the right lip of the secondmember each include one or more orifices for fastening the truss ventcover to two adjacent truss beams by way of nails or screws.

The present invention also includes a screen fixedly attached to theback face of the first member of the substantially rectangular borderbody covering the substantially empty center region. It is importantthat the length of the screen be longer than the length of the firstmember, so as to allow the screen to fully cover the back face of thesecond member. Because the second member can slide into and out of thefirst member, the extra length of the screen ensures that the back sideof the second member is covered event at times when the second memberhas to be placed at the extreme limits of its size adjustability. Theextra length of the screen can easily be trimmed in times where thesecond member needs little or no reason to extend the sides of the firstmember. The screen of the present invention can be any type of suitablescreen and be made from any suitable material including plastics andmetals, preferably galvanized steel to protect against corrosion. Thesize of the screen holes should be small enough as to prevent smallanimals and event insects to enter the screen and into the attic.Preferably, the size of the holes of the screen is about ⅛ inches. Thescreen can be attached to the back side of the first member by anysuitable attaching methods, however it is important that the screen besubstantially attached such that small animals or insects will not beable to pass through. Preferably the screen can be attached to the backsurface of the first member by way of high heat being applied at one ormore location on the screen such that the screen becomes fused with theback side of the first member.

In the present invention, the substantially rectangular border body maybe manufactured to have an arc configuration, such that thesubstantially rectangular border body can be pressed and flattenedduring the installation ensuring a tight fit with the truss venthousing. This is particularly useful and effective because the venthousing, chute, or side walls of a house are rarely perfectly straightand include slight curves, peaks, and valleys. In this way the arc shapeof the border body provide a center the can be aligned with the ventchute, vent housing, or outside wall while the right and left sides areslightly raised. The right and left sides can be pressed down to flattenthe border body, which will provide a tight fit without allowing spacefor undesired outside elements to enter.

The present invention can also include one or more decorative structuralsupport means fixedly attached to the screen and fixedly attached inbetween the first top lip and the first bottom lip of the first memberof the substantially rectangular border body. For example, thedecorative structural support means can include three circular membersattached in between the first top lip and the first bottom lip of thefirst member of the substantially rectangular border body.

II. Rectangular Truss Vent Cover

Another embodiment of the present invention includes a substantiallyrectangular truss vent cover including a border having an empty centerregion, the border including a top side, a bottom side, a left side, anda right side, wherein at lease one of the sides includes means forselective size adjustability, and a screen fixedly attached to the backsides of the truss vent. The means for selective size adjustment mayinclude a side of the rectangular truss vent cover which is slightlyshorter that its opposing side and the side itself includes two otherattached sides forming a rectangle with a missing side, such that thetwo rectangular parts of the truss vent interfit, the top and bottomsides of the second member slide inside and over the top and bottomsides of the first member forming the four sides of the rectangle. Insuch configuration, the interfitting and sliding mechanism of the firstand second members provide for selective size adjustability of the ventcover, where the rectangle can be made to have a range of lengthsdepending on how far or deep the member slide into one another.

The present invention can include fastening means for attaching thetruss vent cover to the adjacent truss beams. The fastening means can beany suitable fastening means for this purpose, for example nails,screws, and adhesives are preferred fastening means. It is preferredthat the left side and right side each include one or more orifices forfastening the truss vent cover to two adjacent truss beams by way ofnails or screws.

In the present invention, the truss vent cover may be manufactured tohave an arc configuration, such that the vent cover can be pressed andflattened during the installation ensuring a tight fit with the trussvent housing. This is particularly useful and effective because the venthousing, chute, or side walls of a house are rarely perfectly straightand include slight curves, peaks, and valleys. In this way the arc shapeof the border body provide a center the can be aligned with the ventchute, vent housing, or outside wall while the right and left sides areslightly raised. The right and left sides can be pressed down to flattenthe border body, which will provide a tight fit without allowing spacefor undesired outside elements to enter.

The present invention can also include one or more decorative structuralsupport means fixedly attached to the screen and fixedly attached inbetween the top side and the bottom side of the truss vent cover. Forexample, the decorative structural support means can include threecircular members attached in between the top side and the bottom side ofthe vent cover.

All headings are for the convenience of the reader and should not beused to limit the meaning of the text that follows the heading, unlessso specified. Various changes and departures may be made to the presentinvention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited to thatspecifically described in the specification or as illustrated in thedrawings, but only as set forth in the claims. Although the inventionhas been described and illustrated with respect to exemplary embodimentsthereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that theforegoing and various other changes, omissions, and additions may bemade therein and thereto, without parting from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

EXAMPLES Example I A Truss Vent Cover

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, this example provides an embodiment of atruss vent cover 100 including a substantially rectangular border body101 with a substantially empty center region 102 having a front face andan opposing back face and being able to substantially fit between twoadjacent truss beams 501 and over a truss vent chute, the substantiallyrectangular border body 101 including a first member 201 having a firsttop lip 103, a first bottom lip 104, and a left lip 105, a second member202 having a second top lip 106, a second bottom lip 107, and a rightlip 108, wherein the length of the right lip 108 is shorter than thelength of the left lip 105 such that the second top lip 106 and thesecond bottom lip 107 are able to slidingly fit into the first top lip103 and the first bottom lip 104 of the first member 201, and a screen109 fixedly attached to the back face of the first member 201 thesubstantially rectangular border body 101 covering the substantiallyempty center region 102. In such configuration, at leas one side of thetrust vent cover 100 provides for the means for selective sizeadjustability 403.

The truss vent cover 100 can also include fastening means 401 forattaching the truss vent cover 100 to the adjacent truss beams 501. Inthis configuration, the left lip 105 of the first member 201 and theright lip 108 of the second member 202 each include one or more orifices401 for fastening the truss vent cover 100 to two adjacent truss beams501 by way of nails or screws. The truss vent cover 100 may also includeone or more decorative structural support means 402 fixedly attached tothe screen 109 and fixedly attached in between the first top lip 103 andthe first bottom lip 104 of the first member 202 of the substantiallyrectangular border body 101.

1. A truss vent cover comprising: a substantially rectangular borderbody with a substantially empty center region having a front face and anopposing back face and being able to substantially fit between twoadjacent truss beams and over a truss vent chute, the substantiallyrectangular border body comprising: a first member comprising a firsttop lip, a first bottom lip, and a left lip; a second member comprisinga second top lip, a second bottom lip, and a right lip, wherein thelength of the right lip is shorter than the length of the left lip suchthat the second top lip and the second bottom lip are able to slidinglyfit into the first top lip and the first bottom lip of the first member;and a screen fixedly attached to the back face of the first member ofthe substantially rectangular border body covering the substantiallyempty center region.
 2. The truss vent cover of claim 1, furthercomprising fastening means for attaching the truss vent cover to theadjacent truss beams.
 3. The truss vent cover of claim 1, wherein thefastening means are selected from the group consisting of nails, screws,and adhesives.
 4. The truss vent cover of claim 1, wherein the left lipof the first member and the right lip of the second member each compriseone or more orifices for fastening the truss vent cover to two adjacenttruss beams by way of nails or screws.
 5. The truss vent cover of claim1, wherein the substantially rectangular border body comprises an arcconfiguration, such that the substantially rectangular border body canbe pressed and flattened during the installation ensuring a tight fitwith the truss vent housing.
 6. The truss vent cover of claim 1, furthercomprising one or more decorative structural support means fixedlyattached to the screen and fixedly attached in between the first top lipand the first bottom lip of the first member of the substantiallyrectangular border body.
 7. The truss vent of claim 6, wherein thedecorative structural support means comprise three circular membersattached in between the first top lip and the first bottom lip of thefirst member of the substantially rectangular border body.
 8. The trussvent of claim 1, wherein the substantially rectangular body is 22½inches long and 3¾ inches wide, and the screen has ⅛ inches holes.
 9. Asubstantially rectangular truss vent cover comprising: a border havingan empty center region, the border comprising a top side, a bottom side,a left side, and a right side, wherein at lease one of the sidescomprises means for selective size adjustability; and a screen fixedlyattached to the back face of the border.
 10. The substantiallyrectangular truss vent cover of claim 9, wherein the means for selectivesize adjustability comprises a member with a second top side, a secondbottom side, and a right side, wherein the length of the right side isshorter than the length of the left side of the border such that thesecond top side and the second bottom side are able to slidingly fitinto the top side and the first side of the border.
 11. Thesubstantially rectangular truss vent cover of claim 9, furthercomprising fastening means for attaching the left side and the rightside to two adjacent truss beams.
 12. The substantially rectangulartruss vent cover of claim 9, wherein the fastening means are selectedfrom the group consisting of nails, screws, and adhesives.
 13. Thesubstantially rectangular truss vent cover of claim 9, wherein the leftside and the right side each comprise one or more orifices for fasteningthe substantially rectangular truss vent cover to two adjacent trussbeams by way of nails or screws.
 14. The substantially rectangular trussvent cover of claim 9, wherein the border comprises an arcconfiguration, such that the border can be pressed and flattened duringthe installation ensuring a tight fit with the truss vent chute.
 15. Thesubstantially rectangular truss vent cover of claim 9, furthercomprising one or more decorative structural support means fixedlyattached to the screen and fixedly attached in between the top side andthe bottom side of the border.
 16. The substantially rectangular trussvent of claim 15, wherein the decorative structural support meanscomprise three circular members attached in between the top side and thebottom side of the border.
 17. The substantially rectangular truss ventof claim 9, wherein the border is 22½ inches long and 3¾ inches wide,and the screen has ⅛ inches holes.